Two men from New Mexico who were arrested in November in connection with a murder-for-hire plot are also allegedly linked to a gruesome mission to kill Justin Bieber, according to the New York State Police.
Police said that Mark Staake, 41, and his nephew Tanner Ruane, 23, are accused of being sent by convicted killer Dana Martin, 45, to murder some acquaintances in Vermont. Martin is serving two life sentences for the rape and murder of a teenaged girl in Vermont in October 2000.
But Martin is reportedly also obsessed with Bieber and wanted Staake and Ruane to castrate and kill Bieber when the singer was in New York at the end of November for two concerts, police said, according to KRQE. He even supposedly put a bounty on each of the young star's testicles and allegedly ordered them to strangle Bieber with a tie.
The pair were allegedly poised to strike as Bieber played sold-out concerts at New York's Madison Square Garden on November 28 and 29. But the star was allegedly spared after Martin told jail wardens about the plot.
Police say that Staake had befriended Martin in prison.
In November, New Mexico State Police warned cops in Vermont that Staake and Ruane were on their way to Vermont area to kill some people. The pair was in Canada and entered the U.S. at a border crossing in Vermont. That is where U.S. Custom agents ran a check on the men and discovered Staake was in violation of felony probation and took him into custody.
Ruane was allowed to go free, but, New Mexico cops had a warrant for out on him for two counts of conspiracy to commit murder.
Then New York state troopers arrested Ruane in the Albany area the night after he stayed in a hotel. Troopers said they found documents connected to the Vermont murder plot in Ruane's car.
State Police investigators say they also recovered a hand-written drawing of a depiction of Justin Bieber inside the vehicle being held as evidence.
Thursday, May 23 2013 9:07 AM EDT2013-05-23 13:07:03 GMT
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police.
The NYPD arrested a suspect in the latest anti-gay attack in the city, said police. The incident Monday night involved two men, who police say, had met at the Bowery Mission and went out drinking together in the East Village. Roman Gornell, 39, was arrested on Wednesday.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 9:46 PM EDT2013-05-23 01:46:23 GMT
The New York City Police Department says it is beefing up security at the British consulate, military recruiting stations and other locations due to an apparent terror attack in London.
The New York City Police Department says it is beefing up security at the British consulate, military recruiting stations and other locations due to an apparent terror attack in London.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 12:27 PM EDT2013-05-22 16:27:26 GMT
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Black and Hispanic men are more likely to be stopped in the Bronx and Brooklyn than other boroughs, according to an analysis of police street stop data released Wednesday by the New York Civil Liberties Union.
Wednesday, May 22 2013 8:23 AM EDT2013-05-22 12:23:21 GMT
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race.
Ex-congressman Anthony Weiner whose career imploded after raunchy tweets said in a YouTube video announcement that he's in the New York City mayoral race. A poll released Wednesday placed Weiner in second place behind City Council Speaker Christine Quinn in a Democratic primary.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 9:51 PM EDT2013-05-22 01:51:10 GMT
Just a few days after Mark Carson, 32, was killed for being gay, and only a few hours after a massive rally in the west village calling for an end to the anti-gay violence, it happened again.
Just a few days after Mark Carson, 32, was killed for being gay, and only a few hours after a massive rally in the west village calling for an end to the anti-gay violence, it happened again.
Tuesday, May 21 2013 5:33 PM EDT2013-05-21 21:33:52 GMT
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it
For 35 years, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago has been bringing its brand of contemporary dance to audiences around the world. One of the company's frequent stops is the Joyce Theater in Chelsea where it